TrendLine Saskatchewan - April 2019

The Saskatchewan economy continues to send mixed signals regarding an impending recovery in the last quarter of 2018 and into the first 3 months of 2019.

Average year-to-date employment is up, while both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed are down. Construction activity remains in decline with both building permits and housing starts dropping. The consumer shows few signs of returning to the market with retail sales and new motor vehicles sales in decline.

However, an increase in restaurant receipts and a slowing decline in new minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses sales may bode well for the future. Meanwhile, manufacturing sales and wholesale trade are up while international exports posted a single month decline.